Rapunzel was born to a popular King and Queen in a distant far away kingdom full of enchantment. When she was born it was discovered that Rapunzel’s hair had magical healing powers. The wicked “Mother” Gothel’s vanity fuelled her cruelty, leading her to kidnap Rapunzel and raise her as her own. Locked in a tower for eighteen years, Rapunzel was raised by Mother Gothel believing that the outside world was a cruel and dangerous place. Though Mother Gothel did care for Rapunzel in the dutiful sense, she never really loved her as her own daughter. Despite looking out for her and giving Rapunzel eighteen years of her own life, ultimately Gothel’s goal was to stay young and beautiful forever – something she could only do with Rapunzel’s magical hair.
Rapunzel is an amazing artist and often dreams things that she has never seen before, then proceeds to paint them on the walls of her room. She feels somehow connected to another place and once a year watched in awe as thousands of floating lights fill the sky. Her one true friend is a chameleon named Pascal.
On her eighteenth birthday Rapunzel asks Gothel if she can finally go and see the lights, but is of course denied the opportunity. Quite by chance while Gothel is out, a dashing young man enters her home. Afraid and worried because of her years of imprisonment from the world, Rapunzel manages to apprehend the intruder. Flynn Rider is a man on the run, and seeing her opportunity to help him escape his captors, and at the same time escape herself, she makes an agreement with Flynn.
Bribing him by hiding the goods he himself has stolen, they make their way through the forest. Along the way they of course encounter a whole manner of dangers and traps, but together they get through them.
Their unlikely friendship blossoms and they realise that they have more in common than they originally thought. Along the way Rapunzel finally discovers the whole truth about her birth and her life. She realises that her visions were true, and that she is the long lost princess.
Flynn and Rapunzel’s worlds are blown apart at the last minute though, and following a series of conflicts, Flynn lays dying in the arms of Rapunzel, right back where they started in her tower. In his final act of strength, and to punish the evil Gothel, he cuts off Rapunzel’s hair. Gothel’s age catches up on her and disintegrates. Rapunzel mourns the loss of Flynn, but makes a new discovery – her tears also have healing power. Flynn recovers and they set off for her real home in the kingdom.
Reunited with her family and with Flynn and Pascal by her side, Rapunzel reclaims her birth right and finally lives the life she always dreamed of.

At the Parks and Resorts

Rapunzel currently features in the Mickey’s Magical Celebration show at Disneyland Paris, that performs once daily. Other than that she does not currently feature at the Parks and Resorts in any parade or show, though she is due to make her parade debut on May 27th in the brand new Soundsational parade in Disneyland, California. Of course, anything can change, but it is almost certain she will star.
In Disneyland Paris, Rapunzel’s Tower can be seen form the Storybookland Canal Boats, and in EPCOT her Tower can also been seen over near Germany – though this may be removed once Flower and Garden ends. You will need to check when you visit.

Merchandise has been a bit slow to appear despite the movie's success, but all the usual things can now be found including toys and pins.

In California her meeting location is designed to resemble her Tower from the outside, complete with lots of hair wrapped around the outside. The inside is her stunning painted bedroom as seen in the film.

Meeting Rapunzel

Rapunzel can currently be met at the Fairytale Garden in the Magic Kingdom, and at her own photolocation in Fantasyland at both Disneyland Paris and California. In California the location is indoors (as I said above, it is designed to resemble her Tower) near the Carousel, in Paris it is outdoors near the Old Mill.

More information

For more information on Rapunzel, including more precise meeting locations and shows and parades she features in, check out her page here on this site.

And finally

Despite her initial immaturity, once out in the real world, Rapunzel learns and grows within herself very rapidly. Her enthusiasm for life and her courage in the face of danger, along with her undying dreams help Rapunzel become the princess she not only dreamed of being, but was rightfully born to be.

The vote for next time is now open!

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Cruella DeVil

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Just so you are aware, the next Character of the Week is likely to be about 10 days from now, instead of a week like I used to post last year.